Kent, Washington
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| Kent, Washington | |||
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| Coordinates: | |||
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Washington | ||
| County | King | ||
| Found | May 28, 1890 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Suzette Cooke | ||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 28.3 sq mi (73.2 km²) | ||
| - Land | 28.0 sq mi (72.6 km²) | ||
| - Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.6 km²) | ||
| Elevation | 43 ft (13 m) | ||
| Population (2006) | |||
| - Total | 86,607 | ||
| - Density | 2,836.7/sq mi (1,095.4/km²) | ||
| Time zone | PST (UTC-8) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) | ||
| ZIP codes | 98000-98099 | ||
| Area code(s) | 253 | ||
| FIPS code | 53-35415[1] | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 1530952[2] | ||
| Website: http://www.ci.kent.wa.us/ | |||
Kent is a city located in King County, Washington, United States. The second largest city in south King County and the eighth largest in the state, Kent has the third largest industrial area in the United States[citation needed]. Often considered an outlying suburb of Seattle, Kent is the corporate home for companies such as REI and Oberto Sausage. Nearby towns include Renton and Tukwila to the north, Covington to the east, Federal Way, Des Moines and SeaTac to the west, and Auburn to the south. The population was 79,524 at the 2000 census.
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[edit] History
Kent was officially incorporated on May 28, 1890 with a population of 793, the second city incorporated in King County after Seattle. Kent was formerly known as Titusville, as evidenced by a Titusville Station sign on Gowe St.
Prior to development in the 1960s and 1970s, the Kent area was known for its fertile farmland and verdant pastures. It was once called the "Lettuce Capital of the World."
[edit] Geography
Kent is located at (47.382689, -122.227021),[3] and is divided into three major regions: East Hill, the Valley, and West Hill. Downtown Kent is located on the east side of the valley; the rest of the valley is almost entirely covered by warehouses. There is a good view of Mt. Rainier to the southeast.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 28.3 square miles (73.2 km²), of which, 28.0 square miles (72.6 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it is water. The total area is 0.85% water. Major waterways include the Green River, which flows north through Kent on its way to Puget Sound. The largest lake is Lake Meridian, on the city's East Hill.
[edit] Transportation
There are several major freeways and highways in or near Kent, including Interstate 5, State Route 167, and State Route 18, and, as a result, a much greater traffic density during rush hour. Kent is also central to King County Metro transit, with the Kent Station providing service to many destinations, including downtown Seattle by multiple commuter buses, the Sounder Commuter Rail, and local bus service. Heavy rail service includes two major north-south lines through the Kent Valley, with freight traffic operations by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway.
[edit] Parks
Kent's extensive park system includes over 60 parks, miniparks, playfields, greenbelts, and other related facilities. These parks range in size from as little as 4,300 square feet (400 m²) to over 160 acres (0.65 km²).
[edit] Kent's Records and Averages
| Weather averages for Kent, Washington | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 64 (18) | 71 (22) | 81 (27) | 86 (30) | 92 (33) | 100 (38) | 99 (37) | 99 (37) | 96 (36) | 86 (30) | 74 (23) | 69 (21) | 100 (38) |
| Average high °F (°C) | 47 (8) | 51 (11) | 55 (13) | 61 (16) | 67 (19) | 72 (22) | 77 (25) | 78 (26) | 72 (22) | 62 (17) | 52 (11) | 46 (8) | 62 (17) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 35 (2) | 36 (2) | 39 (4) | 42 (6) | 47 (8) | 52 (11) | 55 (13) | 55 (13) | 51 (11) | 44 (7) | 39 (4) | 35 (2) | 44 (7) |
| Record low °F (°C) | -10 (-23) | -5 (-21) | 10 (-12) | 25 (-4) | 27 (-3) | 33 (1) | 38 (3) | 34 (1) | 28 (-2) | 24 (-4) | -1 (-18) | 3 (-16) | -10 (-23) |
| Precipitation inches (mm) | 5.3 (134.6) | 4.5 (114.3) | 4.1 (104.1) | 2.9 (73.7) | 2.1 (53.3) | 1.7 (43.2) | 0.9 (22.9) | 1.2 (30.5) | 1.8 (45.7) | 3.4 (86.4) | 6.1 (154.9) | 5.8 (147.3) | 37.1 (942.3) |
| Source: Weather.com [4] (unknown date) | |||||||||||||
[edit] Economy
In addition to R.E.I., Oberto Sausage Company, and Seattle Bicycle Supply all being headquartered in Kent, Boeing operates a plant in the city. Kent also hosts many warehouses in its once fertile farmland, due in part to its proximity to key transportation routes. The warehouse district has started to sprawl as far as nearby Sumner, Washington. Whirlpool Corporation and General Electric Appliances are two companies with regional distribution centers in Kent.
The downtown area of Kent is now being revitalized, with the construction of Kent Station being the first step.
[edit] Boeing
Boeing has operated in Kent since at least 1969, when the Kent plant began building the lunar rovers used for the Apollo program.[5]
[edit] Demographics
As of the census [6] of 2006, there were 83,501 people, 31,113 households, and 19,601 families residing in the city. The population density is 2,836.7 people per square mile (1,095.4/km²). There are 32,488 housing units at an average density of 1,158.9/sq mi (447.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city is 70.81% White, 8.23% African American, 0.98% Native American, 9.42% Asian, 0.76% Pacific Islander, 4.7% from other races, and 5.37% from two or more races. 8.13% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. 13.7% were of German, 7.1% English, 6.2% Irish, 5.2% American and 5.0% Norwegian ancestry according to Census 2000.
There are 32,998 households out of which 35.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% are married couples living together, 12.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% are non-families. 28.5% of all households are made up of individuals and 5.8% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.53 and the average family size is 3.15.
In the city the population is spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 35.0% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 7.3% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 33.8 years. For every 100 females there are 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 96.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $50,053, and the median income for a family is $61,016. Males have a median income of $43,136 versus $36,995 for females. The per capita income for the city is $21,390. 11.6% of the population and 8.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 16.7% of those under the age of 18 and 9.3% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
In 1992 the city's population was 40,300, whereas in 2006 it was 86,607: the population more than doubled in ten years[1], which is primarily due to annexation of parcels adjacent to the city's limits.
[edit] Education
Kent, and a number of neighboring cities, are serviced by the Kent School District. The district includes four high schools, seven middle schools, twenty-eight elementary schools and two academies. Federal Way school district also has several schools within the city limits. A branch of Green River Community College opened in Kent Station in 2007.[7]
[edit] Recreation and Entertainment
In 2003, Kent was named Sports Illustrated's Sportstown of the year for Washington. In January of 2006, a major new entertainment center, known as Kent Station, opened in downtown Kent adjacent to the transit station of the same name. Kent Station is the realization of the City of Kent's vision to create a destination downtown that is the community's focal point and identity. Kent Station is a $100 million, 470,000-square-foot (44,000 m²) retail, education, entertainment and residential project. The project is strategically located adjacent to Sound Transit's Sounder Commuter Rail Station and parking garage, Kent's existing downtown and the King County Regional Justice Center. It includes a 14-screen AMC Theatres multiplex cinema, restaurants such as the Ram Restaurant & Brewery, Johnny Rockets, Pizzeria Fondi, Chipotle Mexican Grill and many clothing shops and other forms of entertainment. There are plans to add to Kent Station over the next few years including the new Kent Events Center (formerly known as Amiga), which will be the new home for the Seattle Thunderbirds professional hockey team starting in 2009. There is currently debate about whether or not there is enough road and parking infrastructure in place to handle the anticipated increase in traffic volume these projects will bring. The concerns in particular are along the valley corridors, such as Smith and James Streets.
[edit] Events
- Canterbury Faire, an arts festival in mid-August every year at Earthworks Park, which stopped in 2006.
- Kent Cornucopia Days in July.
- Kent Farmers Market
- Kent Saturday Market
- NHRA Nationals at Pacific Raceways
[edit] Entertainment
[edit] Famous Past/Present Residents
- Earl Anthony, Professional Bowler
- John Bronson, Arizona Cardinals
- Ernie Conwell, New Orleans Saints
- Daphne Loves Derby, Indie-Pop Rock Band
- Mike Karney, New Orleans Saints
- Sarah Larson, Fear Factor contestant, George Clooney's former girlfriend
- Howard Leese, Heart (Guitar, keyboards, synthesizer)
- Kenny Mayne, ESPN Analyst
- Darren McGavin, Actor (Kolchak: The Night Stalker, A Christmas Story, X-Files)
- PZ Myers Biology Professor at U of Minn, Morris and I.D. Critic
- Rodney Stuckey, Detroit Pistons
[edit] Sister Cities
Kent has the following sister cities, according to [2] and [3]:
Castlereagh, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Kaibara, Japan
Kherson, Ukraine
Yangzhou, China
El Grullo, Jalisco, Mexico
Sunnfjord, Norway
[edit] References
- ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Monthly Averages for Seattle, WA. The Weather Channel. Retrieved on 2007-09-28.
- ^ Lunar Roving Vehicle. Boeing.
- ^ Microsoft Encarta
- ^ Southeast King County News | Convenience: a great selling point for GRCC | Seattle Times Newspaper
[edit] External links
- City of Kent Government
- Kent School District
- Kent Chamber of Commerce
- City of Kent Parks Department
- Kent Reporter - Free Weekly Community Newspaper
- Kent, Washington is at coordinates Coordinates:
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